The Perks of Being a Wallflower

© Stephen Chbosky

Module 15: The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

“We accept the love we think we deserve.”

Summary

This book is truly a coming of age tale. It tells the story of Charlie, a 15-year old boy who is starting his first year in high school. Charlie’s story is written in a series of letters to an anonymous person, similar to a diary.  He recounts growing up, the tragedy of having a friend die, the effects of losing his favorite aunt at a young age, and the struggles of going through high school, finding new friends, and just learning how and where he fits in despite how he sees himself.

Impression

I had read this book before but it’s been years since the last time so I picked it up again. The module I read it for was about controversial books. I remembering thinking, “This book isn’t that controversial!” until I read it again. Through heartbreaking and tragic events, Charlie remembers some difficult times in his childhood. He has a friend commit suicide, an aunt whose actions Charlie had repressed, homosexuality, sexual abuse and some serious depression among other things. Despite what sounds like a complete downer of a book, it is filled with wonder and excitement at the new experiences and friendships that Charlie makes. Being the wallflower that he is, he sees people in a different way from how they see themselves and his observations can be applied to a ride range of people in real life. If there is one book you read next year, it should be this one because despite the controversy surrounding the themes, it contains a lot of pertinent information about growing up.

Reviews

“Grounded in a specific time (the 1991/92 academic year) and place (western Pennsylvania), Charlie, his friends, and family are palpably real. His grandfather is an embarrassing bigot; his new best friend is gay; his sister must resolve her pregnancy without her boyfriend’s support. Charlie develops from an observant wallflower into his own man of action, and, with the help of a therapist, he begins to face the sexual abuse he had experienced as a child. This report on his life will engage teen readers for years to come.”

– Francisca Goldsmith

“First-novelist Chbosky captures adolescent angst, confusion, and joy as Charlie reveals his innermost thoughts while trying to discover who he is and whom he is to become. Intellectually precocious, Charlie seems a tad too naive in many other ways, yet his reflections on family interactions, first date, drug experimentation, first sexual encounter, and regular participation in Rocky Horror Picture Show screenings are compelling.”

– Sally Estes

Library Use

Perks is an important book for teens to read despite being on the banned book list. It should be included in a display on banned books or used a reference point for kids who struggle with depression, drug use, were sexually molested, or for kids who are questioning their sexuality.

References

Chbosky, S. (1999). The Perks of Being a Wallflower. New York, New York: MTV Books.

Estes, S. (1999). Review of The Perks of Being a Wallflower. The Book List 95(12), 1038-1039. Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com.

Goldsmith, F. (1999). Review of The Perks of Being a Wallflower. School Library Journal 45(6), 126-129. Retrieved from http://www.slj.com

Phineas Gage

© John Fleischman

Module 12: Phineas Gage by John Fleischman

Summary

It was 1848, Phineas Gage was 25 years old when a 13 inch iron rod blew through the front part of his head, and brain – he survived. This is the story not necessarily of Phineas Gage, but of the miracle of his survival and what implications they had on the medical world thereafter. Despite little knowledge of the brain in the mid 19th century Gage managed to survive 11 years after his accident though his personality had fundamentally changed. His case is to this day one of the most important cases in what we know about the brain and the frontal lobe.

Impression

I had heard of this book for years and after taking osteology during my time as an undergrad I absolutely had to read this for class. Fleischman does a fantastic job explaining the important parts of the brain and the implications of where the rod went through Gage’s brain. He explains the story very factually while still emphasizing the importance of his survival. He includes some of the more extraordinary details of Gage’s experience, such as him sitting up and explaining to the doctor what had just happened to him immediately after the accident. Fleischman does a fantastic job fleshing out an already interesting story.

Reviews

“The book’s present-tense narrative is inviting and intimate, and the text is crisp and lucid, combining the personal and the theoretical to dramatic effect and avoiding condescension both to readers and to the unfortunate Gage.”

– Deborah Stevenson

“This event is the takeoff point for a basic introduction to the human brain and its functionings. A side foray into phrenology is useful in illuminating the history of beliefs about the brain and will help students understand pseudosciences.”

– Edna Boardman

Library Use

This would be a great book to recommend to any kids with an interest in medicine, bones, or psychology. It would also be a good book to recommend to kids who like “gross” stories.

Referenes

Boardman, E. (2002). Review of Phineas Gage. Book Report 21(3), 66. Retrieved from http://www.librarymediaconnection.com/

Fleischman, J. (2004). Phineas Gage. Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Stevenson, D. (2002). Review of Phineas Gage. Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books 55(9), 321-322. Retrieved from http://bccb.lis.illinois.edu/.

The Nazi Hunters

© Neal Bascomb

Module 11: The Nazi Hunters by Neal Bascomb

Summary

The Nazi Hunters tell the story of finding and capturing Adolf Eichmann, the Nazi behind the German death camps during World War II. The book covers the story from the end of the war to Eichmann’s trial and death. Eichmann fled after the war ended to avoid the trials that other high ranking Nazis were facing and brought his family with him. They moved to Argentina and Eichmann started going by another name. Eichmann’s his sons kept their real surname which ultimately resulted in Eichmann’s capture. The story follows Eichmann’s move along with all of the important players involved in his capture. For fear that Germany wouldn’t put Eichmann to trial 15 years after the war ended, Israel took it into their own hands to bring justice to a man who caused many in their country pain.

Impression

On the back of the The Nazi Hunters it is called “a thrilling spy mission, [and] a moving Holocaust story…”. This sums up the tale well. Bascomb did an excellent job writing out the events that took place to capture and put Eichmann to trial. His research was very thorough – interviewing still living members of the mission and referencing tons of documents.The best part about The Nazi Hunters, that separates it from Bascomb’s adult version of the story Hunting Eichmann, was the inclusion of relevant photographs into the story. Haunting images of the man who caused so much pain and suffering to many along with pictures of the men who helped capture him help the reader stay present and recall that though it is a spy story, it is a true one with real consequences for real people if it goes badly.

Reviews

“Thriller fans will find all their favorite plot points here, from disguises and coded messages to abduction and interrogation; Bascomb keeps on the right side of the fine line that distinguishes suspense from sensationalism.”

– Roger Sutton

“Ideal for middle and high school students, this book is a fast-paced, accessible read that would be a fascinating addition to Holocaust and World War II collections. Historical photographs of the subjects involved, as well as artifacts from the story, add appeal.”

– Candi Pierce Garry and Shelley Glantz

Library Use

As mentioned in the review above, this book would be a great one to include in book talk about Holocaust related literature. It would also work well in a display about World War II or history books in general.

References

Adolf Eichmann [image]. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.juniorlibraryguild.com/images/9780545430999/InteriorArt/9780545430999-nazihunter4_zoom.jpg.

Bascomb, N. (2013). The Nazi Hunters. New York, New York: Scholastic.

Bascomb, N. (2010). Hunting Eichmann. Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Garry, C. P., and Glantz, S. (2014). Library Media Connection 32(4), 85. Retrieved from http://www.librarymediaconnection.com.

Sutton, R. (2014). Review of The Nazi Hunters. The Horn Book Guide 25(1), 189. Retrieved from http://www.thehornbookguide.com.

The Wednesday Wars

© Gary Schmidt

Module 10: The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt

“If Romeo had never met Juliet, maybe they both would have still been alive, but what they would have been alive for is the question Shakespeare wants us to answer.”

Summary

Holling Hoodhood is starting 7th grade. Usually teachers love him but not Mrs. Baker. Wednesday afternoons all of the Jewish kids go to synagogue and all of the Catholics go to a cathedral but Holling is Presbyterian so he’s stuck spending Wednesday afternoons with Mrs. Baker. Both Mrs. Baker and Holling feel awkward at their one on one “class” time but after reading Shakespeare together, begin to form a bond. Blanketed across the backdrop of the late 60s, Holling’s story tells of coming to love Shakespeare, the incredible perseverance of teachers, the love/hate relationship between a family, and how war effects everyone.

Impression

I was really impressed with Schmidt’s writing. The Wednesday Wars are technically historical fiction but Schmidt’s writing blends so easily with what’s going on around Holling and his family that it feels seamless. Holling, though very juvenile at times, is a lovable character reminiscent of most 7th grade boys. One of his most endearing qualities is that he insists on learning the curses that Shakespeare makes Caliban say in The Tempest – “A southwest blow on ye and blister you all o’er!”

Reviews

“Ultimately, Mrs. Baker steps out from behind her desk as a multilayered individual who helps Holling (often through their discussions of Shakespeare’s plays) to dare to choose his own ending rather than follow the dictates of others. Schmidt rises above the novel’s conventions to create memorable and believable characters.”

– Betty Carter

“This is a wonderful book, and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a heart-warming read. I also recommend it to teachers looking for a way to show students how Shakespeare can teach life lessons to meet a variety of situations.”

– Jean Boreen

Library Use

This book would be a great book to coincide with teaching children Shakespeare or at least introducing children to his stories without them seeming drab. It would also work well for a display about modern historical fiction – something other than a medieval type story.

References

Boreen, J. (2007). Review of The Wednesday Wars. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy 51(1), 77-78.

Carter, B. (2007). Review of The Wednesday Wars. The Horn Book Magazine 83(4), 403. Retrieved from http://www.hbook.com/horn-book-magazine-2/.

Schmidt, G. D. (2009). The Wednesday Wars. Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

The Book of Blood and Shadow

© Robin Wasserman

Module 9: The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman

Summary

Nora’s seemingly normal life is rocked one day by the brutal murder of her best friend Chris – and supposedly at the hands of Chris’ roommate, and her boyfriend, Max. Nora grew up translating Latin as a hobby with her father, a Latin professor. Now doing it as an intern for “the Hoff”, a professor at her school, along with Chris, and Max, she is surprised when the letters she is translating prove to be more ominous and meaningful than she originally thought. Following the suspected Max to Prague after Chris’ murder, Nora and Adriane (Chris’ catatonic and left behind girlfriend) are encountered by an underground organization trying to solve the same mysterious puzzle as Nora’s professor – how to build the machine used to talk to God.

Impression

The beginning of this book is strong and an interesting page turner. Learning about the relationships and interactions between Nora, Chris and Adriane prior to Max’s arrival are enjoyable to read about. The work they are doing for the professor is interesting – Nora translates the letters of Elizabeth Weston, a real 16th century Czech poet, who wrote to her brother to describe the machine their father helped build with which one can talk to God, while the boys attempt to translate the Voynich manuscript, also a real piece of writing written in a language yet to be decoded. The story gets more interesting as a cult-like group is discovered to also be searching for this information and willing to kill for it. However, Wasserman’s writing is not for Hemingway fans – i.e. her sentences are long and drawn out (the book is 448 pages long). The story is intriguing but gets a little outlandish and unbelievable once Nora has been in Prague for sometime and the intentions of the cult are more explicit. Though a good read in many senses, the story could have been severely edited for extraneous story deviations that could have improved the flow and kept the story fast paced.

Reviews

“Readers who enjoy fast-paced, bloody, historically inflected thrillers in the vein of Dan Brown will be riveted.”

– Barry Goldblatt

“The teen designation feels less content- than market-driven. While depictions of violence and sexuality are more muted than the title suggests, Nora’s sensibility, casual independence and vocabulary are entirely adult.”

– Kirkus Review

Library Use

This book has been compared many times to The Da-Vinci Code by Dan Brown so I believe that in a library setting it would be perfect to introduce teens to the suspense/thriller genre while also encouraging them to look up information about history and geography. The book often mentions real events and describes Prague in some detail.

Referenes

Goldblatt, B. (2010, 13 February). Review of The Book of Blood and Shadow. Publishers Weekly. Retrieved from http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-375-86876-4.

Kirkus Review. (2012, 3 December). Review of The Book of Blood and Shadow. Kirkus Review. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/robin-wasserman/book-blood-and-shadow/.

Wasserman, R. (2012). The Book of Blood and Shadow. New York, New York: Random House Children’s Books.

Artemis Fowl

© Eoin Colfer

Module 8: Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

Summary

Twelve year-old Artemis Fowl is both a genius and the son of a criminal mastermind. In an attempt to redeem the Fowl name, Artemis wants to capture the unconquerable (a fairy) and ransom it for fairy gold. With calculating precision, Fowl kidnaps Captain Holly Short – a member of the Lower Elements Police force – and a fairy. The story follow Artemis and his cohorts and he attempts to gain access to the fairy gold by preventing Holly’s rescue; simultaneously, Commander Julius Root is working with a special ops team to try to get Holly out of Fowl manner without sacrificing the gold.

Impression

The battle of the minds between Holly and the fairies and Artemis and his cohorts is entertaining, humorous, and tense. I can understand why Colfer’s world has attained so much praise over the years. He maintains an aura of suspense and provides thoroughly complex characters.  Artemis, though detestable at times, maintains a childlike yearning to please his parents which makes him much more endearing than he should be. The character of Holly Short is intriguing though frustratingly stubborn. It is easy to become attached to these characters and where there story will end but it’s hard to decide who to root for, Artemis or the fairies?

Reviews

“Fairy folk notwithstanding, Golfer’s novel is more suspense than fantasy, and the rising action supports the pace. The paramilitary humor leans a tad toward the adult, but the characters’ motivations are easily recognizable, and readers will appreciate Artemis’ growing conscience, Holly Short’s compulsion to heal even the deadly Butler, and the camaraderie of the ground troops.”

– Janice Del Negro

“A zany cast of magical characters, from the cigar-chomping LEP Commander Julius Root to the tunnel-digging dwarf, Mulch Diggums, populates this clever, funny, action-packed thriller. Adventure, fantasy, and science fiction lovers will devour this story.”

– Susan Spaniol

Library Use

This book would be good to use in a book talk about fantasy and adventure books for young readers. Many kids liked Harry Potter but are unaware of other similar series to sink their teeth in to and I think this would fit that category wonderfully, along with others like the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series by Rick Riordan.

References

Colfer, E. (2009). Artemis Fowl. New York, New York: Disney-Hyperion.

Del Negro, J. (2001). Review of Artemis Fowl. Bulletin for the Center of Children’s Books 54(11), 406-407. Retrieved from http://bccb.lis.illinois.edu/.

Spaniol, S. (2001). Review of Artemis Fowl. Book Report 20(2), 60. Retrieved from http://www.librarymediaconnection.com/.

Before We Were Free

© Julia Alvarez

Module 5: Before We Were Free by Julia Alvarez

“It’s like my whole world is coming undone, but when I write, my pencil is a needle and thread, and I’m stitching the scraps back together.”

Summary

Eleven-year-old Anita grew up believing that she was supposed to love El Jefe (Rafael Trujillo), the Dictator of the Dominican Republic. Her world is rocked after her last remaining extended family is suddenly shipped off to New York City, while her Uncle Toni is still missing. Anita battles through normal teenage experiences – fighting with her older sister, being told to shush during important conversations, and feeling like a “grown-up” but not being treated like one – while simultaneously experiencing the resistance movement against El Jefe in the 1960s.

Impression

I am not usually a reader of historical fiction but this book reaches out and  grabs you. I had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Alvarez at a book signing that I worked at and I instantly wanted to read one of her books, so when given the option for school, I picked up Before We Were Free. I related easily to Anita, having been called talkative all my life. She sees things with a gentle naivety that is both hard to read when you understand the severity of what is happening, but makes you glad for her innocence during some of the harder scenes. Her story is a tragic one that is certainly hard to imagine for those who have lived in America their whole lives. Alvarez’s words held a lyricism, that while still appropriate speak for an 11 year old, captivated me in a way most books for young adults do not. 

Reviews

“Alvarez takes her readers on an emotional journey as we follow Anita through her thoughts of confusion, sorrow, and fear as she strives to understand and survive in a world that is much too grown up for her. Anita’s story awakens the reader to a silent world of memories lost in a young girl’s eyes while eliciting our emotions of sympathy and respect.”

– Cecily Callan

“Alvarez’s pacing is swift and sure, and the description of the ever-increasing dangers faced by the de la Torres is utterly compelling. Fans of Anne Frank’s diary will eagerly devour this fictional story of a family on the run from a fanatical political leader.”

– Jeannette Hulick

Library Use

This books is an excellent example of historical fiction – especially as a read for examples of turmoil in South and Central America. It would easily couple with a history lesson on political problems with dictatorships as well as giving an example of some of the more sinister reasons that people emigrate to the United States.

References

Alvarez, J. (2002). Before We Were Free. New York, New York: Random House Children’s Books.

Callan, C. (2005). Review of Before We Were Free. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy 48(5), 437, 439. Retrieved from http://www.reading.org/general/publications/journals/jaal.aspx.

Hulick, J. (2002) Review of Before We Were Free. Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books 56(3), 97. Retrieved from http://bccb.lis.illinois.edu/.

Jellicoe Road

© Melina Marchetta

Module 5: Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

“My father took one hundred and thirty-two minutes to die. I counted. It happened on the Jellicoe Road..”

Summary

Jellicoe Road is a story that bridges relationships and how they change us over and through time. Though is has one of the most ominous first lines in book history, the story begins as a seemingly typical high school drama. Kids from the Jellicoe School, the nearby Cadets, and the aptly named “Townies” have a make-believe territory war every year over who controls parts of the landscape surrounding the school. After being abandoned by her mother on the Jellicoe Road at age 11, Taylor’s only real friend at the school, Hannah, has mysteriously disappeared. The territory wars, who’s in them, and where Hannah went all plague Taylor as she puts together pieces of her past and how it relates to the novel Hannah had started but never completed.

Impression

If I’m honest, going into this book I was not expecting much. My very good friend who is an avid YA reader suggested that I choose this book as my required reading during the Award Winners section of my class. I am so glad that I read this book. It is easily one of my top 5 favorites as of now. Hannah’s novel is so tragically complex but filled with moments of clarity, wonder, and friendship that it adds such a beautiful backdrop to figuring out the mystery of Taylor Markham’s life. She is surrounded with people who make her feel threatened and although she cares, she is better at shutting people out than showing them. She is crass, but a character most can relate to. If there is only one book that you read this year, it should be Jellicoe Road.

Reviews

“Even readers with boringly normal lives will recognize the strains of Taylor’s individuation (about Hannah, she says, “I hate her for not working out what I need from her”), and they’ll be relieved to see her and her collection of surprising yet staunch friends finding their way at last.”

– Deborah Stevenson

“Every time I read On the Jellicoe Road [the original Australian title] it simply takes my breath away. I fall in love with this book all over again, it hits me full strength no matter how well I think I know the story, it makes me smile and cry and sometimes both in the same time, all while I get drunk on the beauty of Marchetta’s words.”

– Ariana from ReadingAfterMidnight

Library Use

In a fashion similar to Holes by Louis Sachar or Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer, this book is a good example of a non-linear story line. It’s also a really good example of preventing history from repeating itself. Because of the drama within the school, it could also be a good book to use as an example for kids to see the emotional effects of pushing people away.

References

ReadingAfterMidnight. (2013). Review On the Jellicoe Road [re-read]. Retrieved from http://www.readingaftermidnight.com.

Marchetta, M. (2008). Jellicoe Road. New York, New York: Harper Collins.

Stevenson, D. (2008). Review of Jellicoe Road. Bulletin for the Center for Children’s Books 62(3), 124-125. Retrieved from http://muse.jhu.edu/.

Where Things Come Back

© John Corey Whaley

Module 5: Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley

“I can’t seem to be a pessimist long enough to overlook the possibility of things being overwhelmingly good.”

Summary

Cullen Witter lives an ordinary life in small town Arkansas until the day his brother Gabriel goes missing. His town snaps into a frenzy – not just about Gabriel, but also about a thought-to-be-extinct bird: the Lazarus Woodpecker. Cullen describes the seemingly normal interactions following the months after his brother goes missing and how that affects not only himself, but the friends and family that surround him. On another page, Benton Sage is beginning a mission trip in Ethiopia where he feels like his work is doing little to promote the Lord. Benton’s experiences in Ethiopia incite a series of events circulating around the Book of Enoch, obsession, and angels.

Impression

There are so many things I could say about this book. The story that Cullen tells, and the story that starts with Benton is meaningful, hopeless at times, and oddly satisfying in it’s tragedy. Though the synopsis on the back of the book mentions the disappearance of Gabriel, reading his interactions with Cullen and his friends and family make him feel so real and likable even in a short amount of time. Throughout the book you get to know Gabriel more and more by the way Cullen describes him – it gets to the point where you can feel Cullen’s sadness as your own. Benton’s interactions in Ethiopia and in school are heavy but give the story a safe melancholy. This story is an important one to be shared because of its insight into how humans interact and experience each other. Cullen Witter has been compared to Holden Caulfield from The Catcher in the Rye  by J.D. Salinger and I would say that is a fair assessment.

Reviews

“Insights into the nature of friendship, male siblings, and sibling loss provide additional dimension, and thoughtful readers will appreciate this coming-of-age story overlaid with a ripped-from-the-headlines mystery and enfolded in a larger narrative about great expectations, loss, and acceptance of the ordinary.”

– Karen Coats

“The realistic characters and fascinating mix of mundane with life changing and tragic events create a memorable story most young adult readers will connect to.”

– Susan Shaver

Library Use

This book would be a great introduction to the teen genre. Cullen is a character that most teens could relate to – he’s average enough to connect with many but his situation is different enough to set him apart. It would also be a good book to talk to kids about loss or even religious fanaticism.

References

Coats, K. (2011). Review of Where Things Come Back. Bulletin for the Center for Children’s Books 64(9), 445. Retrieved from http://muse.jhu.edu/.

Shaver, S. (2011). Review of Where Things Come Back. Library Media Connection 32(2), 78. Retrieved from http://librarymediaconnection.com.

Whaley, J. C. (2011). Where Things Come Back. New York, New York: Anthenum.